Summary
This 2017 review by Reganold positions organic agriculture within a broader portfolio of farming systems needed for 21st-century food security. Whilst acknowledging organic farming's multiple sustainability benefits, the paper argues that no single system—including organic—can alone feed the world; instead, a blend of organic, agroforestry, integrated, conservation, and mixed systems is required. The analysis identifies significant adoption barriers and calls for diverse policy instruments to scale these approaches.
UK applicability
The findings are relevant to UK agricultural policy as the nation develops post-EU farming support schemes. The emphasis on mixed systems and policy innovation aligns with debates around sustainable intensification and the role of organic production within a diverse UK farming landscape, though specific UK agronomic or market conditions are not addressed.
Key measures
Global organic farmland proportion; sustainability attributes of organic and alternative farming systems; policy barriers and enablers
Outcomes reported
The paper examines organic agriculture's current extent (1% of global farmland) and its potential contribution to global food and ecosystem security. It synthesises evidence on sustainability benefits and barriers to adoption of organic and complementary farming systems.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.